Solara feels like its a GEO (CEL and traction light on..)

by **chrom3titan** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:50 am

okay, so I install my SRI (which we already talked about) and the engine light turns on, but it turns on after I fix the damn CEL! so AGAIN my traction and my CEL lights are on. its really pissing me off and I went to pep boys today and they wanna charge me 94 dollars to give me the code... and I'm like Im gonna wait and see what the SG's would say.

So the first time I had this problem I simply disconnected my - in my battery for about 30 minutes and the car works fine (I think) and about 20 minutes late my CEL comes on and then my traction light goes to crap with the CEL. My cars performance is really suffering, the damn gas pedal feels like its 20lbs heavier, its literally harder to push down, and also my RPM feels like its trying to run away from me. When I push down on the 50 frkin pound pedal my RPM's go ape crap and the car is only going 20 lol.. I mean while I'm driving down the street going 50mphs and I floor it (just to test the car because its broke..) my RPM's go waaaaaaaaaaaaaay up high and I look at the speedometer and I'm going 60 lol.. Stock my solara would have just eaten the Solara I'm driving now. And I know this is bs because with my new intake (and HID's lights I dunno if this has anything to do with it) I have had the CEL off for a good 20 mins and my damn car flew, like really really fast haha.

So basically I'm suspecting my O2 sensor, but its installed properly and its connected just fine. Anyone know anything else I might of have touched installed in the intake because I'm 1000% sure all of the hoses are on perfectly, I even took of the engine cover for a bit to install the smallest hose just to be 69,000% sure its on good.

my symptoms*
----------------
*gas pedal feels like it weighs 60lbs
*when accelerating RPM's go way to high, and car does not go...
*CEL light and Traction Control light (PS my TC is legitimately off, its not even on, tires spin etc) are on
*car is seriously about 40% slower off the line..

suspected causes*
------------------
SRI installation
HID light installation (both fogs and lo's)

I'm really ticked off because I'm sure a freakin civic would rape me in this condition, I just want my lara back

by **Midias** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:09 am

Get your CEL checked for free at autozone or buy a cheap OBD 2 tool then post back with the code.

by **shocar4** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:24 am

i still think that the problem lies with your intake! make sure that there are no air leaks around your maf sensor! to me it sounds like your car is getting drowned with air! just my 2 cents! an obdII scanner would be ideal for this situation! i bought one at sears about a year ago for $100 and i have used the crap out of it on my old solara and my friends cars! it was well worth the $$$$$

by **Midias** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:12 am

You can get an obd 2 reader that does nothing but give you a code and clear it on ebay for about 25 dollars. I use mine ALL the time for many cars it is worth every penny.

by **Dawgz** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:16 am

Sounds like ur ECU put ur car in limp mode.

by **Midias** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:22 am

So all 3 hoses are good? And you installed the gasket between the MAF and the intake?

by **Chinky420** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:08 am

1) rule out the HIDS. nothing about them or their install would affect performance, or would throw a CEL...they woulda just blown a fuse

2) goto autozone and get the code read for FREE. sounds like a O2 sensor, but nobody can be sure w/o a code.

3) check for vaccum leaks EVERYWHERE. also, what type of SRI did you install? ebay, injen, cpe, custom? if it was injen or cpe, then all you should need to do is pull the battery terminal and let it reset.

since you did that and the CEL came back, i'm assuming either custom or ebay. if it's ebay....i hate to say it but you get what you pay for. if it's custom, then it could be whole host of other issues.

on my custom setup, within a week of installing the SRI i threw the CEL (P0135), and then a week later i threw the Trac Off light. now my car has been running in a warm-up loop (read: running rich), and has both lights on constantly. BUT i have not had the same symptoms of having a reluctant gas pedal, or a high revving crap can.

maybe pics would help?

definitely an exact CEL code will help.

screw pep boys for wanting to charge >$3 for pulling a code. i woulda laughed out loud and called them cheapasses, while in the store in front of everyone. autozone does it for free. and if there isn't an autozone near you, then spend the 30 bucks to get a cheap OBD-II scanner that will be used constantly (if you want to mod).

by **Midias** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:17 am

Chinky420 wrote:3) check for vaccum leaks EVERYWHERE. also, what type of SRI did you install? ebay, injen, cpe, custom? if it was injen or cpe, then all you should need to do is pull the battery terminal and let it reset.

since you did that and the CEL came back, i'm assuming either custom or ebay. if it's ebay....i hate to say it but you get what you pay for. if it's custom, then it could be whole host of other issues.

Judging by the thread http://www.solaraguy.com/viewtopic.php?t=38803 he mentioned earlier he has an injen intake and has already pulled the battery.

Get the code then come back.

by **Chinky420** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:19 am

^x2 ... i was too lazy to go back and find the old post

in that case, the code is key

by **synenergy52** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:01 pm

AAMCO will read the code for free. I am guessing the MAF on the intake. Either its installed incorrectly or you damaged it during the install of the intake. You should make a video and show us what the car is doing. Are all your spark plug wires /coils plugged in? You didnt touch them did you?

by **synenergy52** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 1:02 pm

And to my knowledge a bad o2 sensor would not have adverse effects like that. It'll just have decreased gas mileage.

by **chrom3titan** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:07 pm

i'm on my way to pep boys right now

by **Midias** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:07 pm

chrom3titan wrote:i'm on my way to pep boys right now

Again?

by **chrom3titan** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:20 pm

well I went to auto zone and they did it for free, a Scottish guy did it lol, kinda weird because a Scottish guy living in Buffalo lol. But okay, my receipt says

the code he gave me was P0401

and the receipt gives me a few problems it might be:

EGR System fault
Explanation: the ECM system detected too little flow on the EGR system
Probable causes:

1. Blocked passage on EGR system
2. Failed EGR Valve
3.EGR Solenoid faulty
4.Failed EGR pressure sensor where applicable
5.Failed EGR position sensor where applicable

the dude recommended to buy some carbon spray and spray the inside of it, I'm sure I dont need to but i got some anyways, what do yall say about this?

by **Midias** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 5:21 pm

Take off the EGR and spray it out with TB or Carb cleaner. Post back when done.

Solara feels like its a GEO (CEL and traction light on..)

Solara feels like its a GEO (CEL and traction light on..)

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